CHAP. XIII. XHMI, KHEMl, EGYPT. 47 



Strong argument in support of this is also derived 

 from her being put in opposition to the foreign 

 nations with whom the Egyptians were at war. 



Though the force of the character forming her 

 name has not yet been ascertained, the signification 

 given it by the learned Champollion seems to be 

 confirmed by the fact of our finding it applied to 

 gold when in a pure state. It is therefore con- 

 sidered to be the emblem of purity^ rather than 

 power, as formerly supposed ; and the Goddess has 

 the title of '' the pure Land," which doubtless ap- 

 plied to Egypt.* 



It is the sceptre usually seen in the hands of 

 the Gods, erroneously said to be surmounted by 

 the head of the Upupa ; a misconception into 

 which Horapollo has also been led, as is evident 

 from his considering that "bird a fit ornament 

 for the sceptres of the Godst," because it is the 

 type of "gratitude." But the head is that of a 

 quadruped, not of a bird ; though easily mistaken 

 for the Upupa when carelessly sculptured, or of a 

 small size. Its being emblematic of purity makes 

 it an appropriate characteristic of the divine nature, 

 and it is very properly associated with the feather 

 of Truth. 



The name of Egypt was Khemi, which, as I have 

 already stated, bore a strong analogy to the word 

 Khamet, "black ;" and both are sometimes written 

 in the same manner by the hieroglyphic of a croco- 



* Vide Plate 53. Part 3. f Horapollo, Hierog. i. o6. 



X Or Chame. I write these words indifferently with Kh, and Ch. 

 Vide supra, Vol. I. (2d Series) p. 2G3. 



